6500X Media PC build log by Newfiend

Newfiend took our 6500X for a spin and created an awesome VR gaming PC that pulls double duty as a streaming / server PC. Here's how they did. Everything after this is in their own words.

Media PCs, also known as HTPCs (Home Theater PCs), have been around for a long time. Years ago, I used Windows Media Center for my home media consumption. It had its own Cable Card TV tuner, and we used it for DVR purposes and could stream its content to our Xbox 360s at that time. It worked well for many years until Microsoft decided to end support for Windows Media Center. I was left struggling to find a replacement.

In the past, options were limited. A close friend introduced me to PLEX. After some research, I concluded it was the right choice for me. I'm glad I did; it works exceptionally well for us, enabling me to stream all my media to any device effortlessly and reliably every time.

That's when I decided that I wanted a media server next to our TV, but I wanted it to be multi-functional. Not only did I want it to handle all the media recording and streaming, but I also wanted to play the latest video games on our TV and possibly stream those games to my VR headset. So, I set out to build a media PC with CORSAIR's help that would fulfill my plan, and the 6500X Media PC was born.

Some of the components are from an older CORSAIR kit I purchased before I became an Insider. I used the power supply from my old HTPC and transferred it to this new 6500X build, along with its custom Corsair red cables. Since this new build will be in our living space, I wanted it to look nice and blend in with the rest of the entertainment area. Here are the items I chose to complete the build.

• Case – Corsair 6500x
• Power Supply – Corsair AX860i with Corsair Premium Individually sleeved PSU cables.
• Motherboard - Asus ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming WiFi.
• CPU – Intel Core i7 10700K
• CPU Cooler – Corsair Link H150i LCD Liquid CPU Cooler.
• Memory – Corsair 32GB DDR4 Dominator Platinum RAM.
• GPU – EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3 Ultra Gaming
• Fans – 10 Corsair RX MAX RGB Series in 120mm x 30mm
• Internal case lighting – iCUE Link LS430 Aurora RGB Light Strips.
• Storage – Samsung 980 Pro SSD for the OS as well as multiple Western Digital HDD for Media and Game Storage.

The 6500X is a dual-chamber PC case. Once complete, you can neatly tuck away the storage drives and wiring to create a clean and attractive build in the front chamber. With its glass side panels and ample airflow, this case is the perfect size to meet all my needs.

With the fans mounted on the bottom and sides as intake and on the top and rear as exhaust, all the components remain cool even during intense gaming sessions. As a bonus, the new 6500X also supports the latest BTF motherboards, so I have upgrade options available in the future. The rear mesh side panel effectively vents any excess heat generated by the storage drives in the rear chamber, allowing the side panel fans to intake a significant amount of cool air into the front chamber. All the intake fans are equipped with filters to keep out dust and maintain a clean interior.

I also added the CORSAIR 6500 Series Vertical GPU Mount Kit to this case to better display the GPU. I really like the design of this, as it moves the GPU away from the side glass panel, allowing better air intake and cooling.

Although the RX MAX fans offer plenty of RGB lighting, a few areas required additional illumination, so I added the iCUE LINK LS430 strips to brighten some of the darker corners of the case. This enhancement made everything inside pop, and it looks amazing.

Keeping all the components cool in this PC is crucial. It runs 24/7, so maintaining optimal temperatures is essential for its longevity. I chose the CORSAIR LINK H150i LCD Liquid CPU Cooler to regulate the CPU temperatures and the CORSAIR RX MAX RGB 120mm x 30mm to provide the rest of the internal components with fresh, cool air. The internal temperatures are excellent, and the CPU sits at 31°C while idle. The fans are magnetic and connect easily.

Working with the new LINK components is a dream. Everything connects to a central LINK hub for RGB and Fan control with a single cable. No more fighting to figure out which cable controls fan speed and which one controls RGB. I can’t rave enough about the ease of connections and controls. No more trying to hide a multitude of cable mess! With everything controlled with iCUE, it’s wonderful to have a central location to control everything from fan speed to RGB.

For this Build I am running:

• Windows 11 Pro for the OS.

Plex Media Server allows streaming of all media to devices in our home. I paired this with a Silicon Dust HDHomeRun TV tuner for over-the-air DVR and TV viewing. Everything is managed through PLEX, and it works great.

I installed Steam and ran it in Big Picture Mode when I wanted to play from the couch. We use a wireless Xbox Elite Controller and an Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows to make this happen.

We also connect our Oculus VR headset wirelessly to the Media PC to stream Steam VR games directly to the headset. For all streaming from the CORSAIR Media Server, we use an Nvidia Shield connected to the TV.

This PC has been incredibly enjoyable to own and use. It’s very versatile and serves as the hub of our home media and gaming collections. The selected CORSAIR components have performed exceptionally well, and I couldn’t be happier with the results.

From media to gaming, this PC handles it all with such ease. CORSAIR’s components are top-quality and perfectly meet the needs of my build.

I appreciate CORSAIR for the chance to work on this build and for providing all the necessary components, making the setup and completion process super easy.